Two provincial cattle associations call for scrapping of proposed livestock traceability regulations

"Traceability is extremely important... a strong traceability system for our Canadian beef industry when we're so heavily export reliant as a sector is crucial to maintain market access. The organization is urging regulators to instead focus on closing key gaps in the system, particularly the movement of animals between operations, while avoiding unnecessary reporting requirements in lower-risk situations."

"The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has been developing amendments to the traceability provisions of the Health of Animals Regulations for more than a decade, with the goal of strengthening Canada's ability to track livestock movements and respond quickly to disease outbreaks. Improved traceability is widely seen as essential for maintaining export markets and protecting the country's animal health system."

"Among the priorities highlighted by MBP are ensuring regulations target the highest areas of risk, avoiding duplication with existing programs, reducing administrative burden, improving the efficiency of movement reporting, and ensuring strong producer buy-in before changes are finalized."

Manitoba Beef Producers endorses strong national livestock traceability to maintain export market access but has concerns about proposed federal regulatory amendments. The CFIA has spent over a decade developing changes to Health of Animals Regulations to strengthen disease outbreak response capabilities. MBP urges regulators to focus on closing critical gaps in animal movement tracking between operations while eliminating unnecessary reporting requirements for lower-risk situations. Key priorities include targeting high-risk areas, avoiding duplication with existing programs, reducing administrative burden, improving movement reporting efficiency, and securing producer buy-in before finalization. Some proposed requirements, such as reporting cattle movements to veterinary clinics and community pastures, may create excessive administrative challenges.

Read at Realagriculture